Apparatus for controlling electric circuits



Oct. 27, 1925 1,559,389

A. E. WALLER APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRIC CIRCUITS Filed April 7, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M A TTORNEYS A. E. WALLER APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRIC CIRCUITS- Filed April 7. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W WaI/Ifl ENTOR QM J d ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,559,389 PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED E. WALLER, or BRONXVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO wAnn ILEoNARn ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPTARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

Application filed April 7, 1922. Serial No. 550,293.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ALFRED E. WALLER, a citizen of the 'United'States, residingat Bronxville, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented cer-. tam new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling Electric Circuits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to controlling apparatus for the control of a number of different electric. circuits such as for changing the electric lighting effects in theatres. This is usually accompanied by dimmer equipment in which one or more banks of rheostats or other controlling means, are

varied or adjusted to, give the effects de-' sired from time to'time.

In the control of the lamps on diiierent circuits, it is 80111013111188. desirable to control all of the lights similarly and simultaneonsly-hy a common actuating means; also in some cases tocontrol one or more of the lighting circuits separately and independently of the common means; and it is also desirable at times to control some of the lighting circuits similarly to a certain extent and then a portionmf-the circuits to a further degree while others are permitted to remain in a desired condition, such as where the lights o n several circuits are dimmed simultaneously to a certain extent, while a portion of the lights are dimmed to a further degree and others allowed to remain partly dimmed. The controlling apparatus, where used in motion picture" theatres, is preferably operated by the motion picture operator and therefore must be adapted to be conveniently and quickly operated and occupy as.small a space as possible.

The main object of my invention is to produce an improved controlling apparatus' which will fulfill thcse'requirements. By use of my invention the operator can quickly and conveniently 'control any desired number of circuits by the operation of a single driving means and also obtain sucli' flexibility of "control that any desired number of'the'circuits can be controlled to the extent desired and automatically released from further adjustment'or control at any desiredpoint, either individually or collectively to any extent desired. Other objects and advantages of my invention will be understood from the following description plan view of one of the parts; Fig. 7 is an end view of another one of the parts; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing part of I the adjustable tripping means.

In this instance a number of rheostats 10 is shown as the controlling means, although in some cases other controlling devices may be used for affecting the lights .in the different circuits controlled. The rheostats here shown are in the form of plates having the resistance wires embedded in adhesiveinsulating material and connected to the rheostat contacts 11. In this case two circular rows of contacts are shown over which travels the contact arm 12 for varying theamount of resistance in the circuit controlled thereby and thereby affecting the lights as desired. A stop 13 limits the travel of the contact arm and in the position shown in Fig. 2, we mayassume that the contact arm is in the resistance-all-out 19. A main drive shaft 20 is journaled inbearings supported upon the upper part of the frame and. is operated by the worm and adjust its wheel '21 driv'en-bya Worm 22 on a shaft 23 carrying" an operating hand wheel 24.

v Each rheostat is adapted to beconnected with and operated by the drive shaft 20, by

means of manually. adjustable apparatus, v

which is m re fully shown in Figs. 3 to '8.

Loosely ounte'd on the shaft is a quadrant or sector 25;, and this quadrant has a the rim-of the qladrantgand is securedjto the quadrant; a the holes ma-y be marked or suitably numbered iIOylZlldlCfiilG' the varlous positions for convenience in,- adjustment. A sheet metal element 28 has its inner end loosely outer end is bent so that a-portion 28 extends'over the scale plate 27 and acts as a carrier for a pin 29. The pin 29 passes through the portion 28 of the carrier and the inner endof the .pin projects and The inner end of the carrier 28 which embraces. the shaft 20 has an elongated slot 28" as shown in dotted line. in Fig. 3, which permits the carrier 28 and pin 29 to be con-' venientlydrawn outwardly to disengage the end of the pin from a quadrant hole and may then be swung to anydesiredposition opposite another holein the quadrant and pushed inwardly 1n its new position. The carrier and pin may thus be quickly moved to and retained in any position desired, a

spring washer 30 on .the drive shaft interposed between the inner end of the carrier and another-element on the shaft serving to (yieldably-retain the carrier in any position it maybe placed.

A collar 31,-having a slot 31, is fi'xed to the drive shaft. A member 32 is pivotally mounted upon the drive shaft 20 by means .of a pair'of legs 32 which embrace the collar 31. Slidably mounted in the member 32 is a rod 33. A spiral spring .34 surrounds this rod and is seated between the'upper portion of the member 32 and apin and washer on the rod and thus tends .to normally' force the rod 33 into the slot- 31' of the collar. 31. When the rod 33 is thus engaged with the collar 31, the member 32 is locked to the drive shaft 20, :From the upper portion of the member 32 extends a pair of lugs 32", to which is connected the upper end of the rod 17. Angular movement of the member 32 will consequently cause movement of the rod 17 and thereby operate the contact arm 12 of the rheostat.

A handle :35 is fixed to the upper end of the rod or plunger 33. A collar 36 is also fixed to the rod 33 near the handle and hasa depending projection 36'. Theupper end of the member 32 has a cam surface and has two diametrically opposite depressions 37, 37 between which are twodiametrically opposite raised portions or projections 38, 38'. The projectionv 36' is adapted to engage either of the' depressions 37 '37. and when embracing the drive shaft 20 and its is: adapted to enter the holes .27" and 25 so engaged, the rod 33'is in engagement with the sl t 311 in the collar 31, but turning the hande-3'5 or rod 33 on their axis'causes. the

projection 36' to ride up on the cam surfaces and when oneither projecting portion 38, 38, the rod 33 is withdrawn from en-' gagement with the collar 31 and the handle element is then disengaged from'the drive shaft 20. A flat fan .shaped element 39 is also fixed totherod 33 and is shown located between the handle and the collar 36 and projects outwardly from the rod 33 so that when the handle is moved angularly in a plane parallel with the plane of the quadrant, the element 39 travels in a path extending over the quadrant and will be engaged by the pin 29 at a point determined by the position oft'he pin on the quadrant.

Each of the rheostats of the bank is, or may be, provided with the controlling means above des ribed and by means thereof the rheostats may be-simultaneously and similarly adjusted .or independently affected-or controlled as desired. By turning the handle 35 of any rheostat. so that the projection 36 is on a raised portion 38 or 38 of thecam, the member 32 is released =-fro'm' the drive shaft 20. and each rheostat can thus be operated independently. of the others by moving the handle about the shaft 20, If

the handle 35 is turned so that the projec:

tion 36' be in thedepression 37 theelement 39 is turned away from the pin 29, and the element 32'is'then adapted to be moved by P shaft 20 by reason of. t-l'lQI'OCl 33 engaging the slot in the collar 31. The latter condition" also occurs if the handle is turned so that the-projection 36' engages the depression 37 and the element 39 extends toward the quadrant, provided the pin 29 is in an extreme position on the quadrant as; shown 'in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. But if it be desired to cause the automatic release of the member 32. from the shaft at any predetermined point of its travel, pin 29 will be pulled away from the quadrant,sufficiently to clear the holes therein and the pin and its carrier may then be swung to any position desired upon the quadrant and the pin then pushed into one of the'holes in the quadrant, as shownin dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4. Now with the rheostat in the'resistance-all-out position shown in Fig. 2 and the handle in its upper position, the turning of shaft 20 in a clockwise direction will cause the contact arm of the rheostat to be moved until the element 39 strikes against the tripping pin 29 at some intermediat point on the quadrant. As the shaft moves, the pin will cause the element 39' to be turned on its axis and thus cause the projection 36' toride up from the collar 31 as soon as the projection 36' rides upwardly on the inclined earn viously the handles 35 may be ;turned to ad ust the position of the elements 39 and ered and leaves the contact arm of that rheo stat in an intermediate position, with the rod 33 pressing against the outer surface of the collar 31 by force of the spring 34. This position may give a half dimming of the lights, or dimming to any desired extent,

depending upon the position of the tripping pin 29 on the quadrant; When the shaft 20 is afterwards turned in-a counter clockwise direction, the rod 33 will be forced into the slot 31 by pressure of the spring 34 as soon as the slot comes opposite the end of the rod, the projection 36 sliding-down on the inclined cam surface and turning the rod 33 back to its former position. The shaft 20 will then be coupled to the rheostat handle and operate the rheostat by movement of the handle in the counter clockwise direction. Obviously any desired number of the rheostats can be controlled so as to be unlocked by their respective tripping means at corresponding points of ad ustment, or at any d'sired intermediate point, depending upon the positions tQWhich their respective tripping pins 29 are adjusted, and will again be coupled to the shaft upon the reverse move- ..ment thereof at the same points at which they were uncoupled.

Similarly, if desired, the unlocking can be'accomplished during the movement of shaft 20 in the reversed. direction so that some of.the lighting circuits will be controlled to cause their lights to remain dimmed while others are being brightened by continued movement of the shaft 20. Ob-

the pins 29 may be adjusted to their desired positions so as to secure any predetermined character of operation during the movement drive shaft, and these preliminary adof the justments may bermade at convenient times between the operation of the drive shaft.

Although I have described one embodiment of my invention it will be understood that other modifications may be made Without departing from the scope thereof.

I claim: I

1. The combination of a plurality --of electric circuit controlling devices, a driving element therefor, and individual coupling means between said devices and said element whereby said devices may be simultaneously-operated by movement of said element and certain of said devices automatically disconnected from said element, and adjustable means for causing said disconnection to occur at any desired points in the movement'of said element."

2. The combination of an electric circuit controlling device, a driving element thereable to various for, coupling means between said device and. element, and automatic means for uncoupling during the movement of said element, and adjustable means for automatically uncoupling at .any desired point during the movement of said element.

3. The combination of an electric circuit controlling device, a driving element therefor, coupling means between said device and element, adjustable means for automatically uncoupling at any. desired point during the movement of said element and a manual element whereby said device may be operated independently of said driving element.

4. The combination of an electric circuit controlling device, a driving element there for, a member movable on said element connected to said device, coupling means between said element and said member, and adjustable tripping means for releasing said coupling means at any desired point during the movement of said element.

adjustable tripping element, and means carried by said member adapted to be engaged by said tripping element for releasing said coupling means.

6. The combination 'of an electric circuit controlling device, a driving element therefor, a member movable on said element connected to said device, coupling -means between said element and said member, an adjustable tripping element, and means carried by said member adapted to be engaged by said tripping element for releasing said coupling means, and a handle adapted to control said coupling means and to move said member.

7. The combination of an electric circuit controlling device, a driving element therefor, a member movable on said element connected to said device, coupling means between said element and said member, a stationary frame, a tripping element adjustpositions on said frame, and means carried by said member adapted to be engaged by said tripping element for releasing said coupling means.

8. ,The combination of an electric circuit controlling device, a driving element thereor, a member movable on said element con- The combination of an electric circuit controlling device, a drive shaft therefor, a member pivoted on said shaft connectedto said device, a plunger carried by 'said member biased to couple said member to said shaft, a handle on said plunger, said mem-' her and said 'plunger having inter-related surfaces for causing said plunger to uncouple said member from said shaft when said plunger is turned on its axis, a trip-- ping element, and an element carried by said plunger and adapted to engage said tripping element,

10. The comblnation of a plurality 'of electric circuit controlling devices, a driv ing element-therefor, and individual coupling means between said devices and said element whereby .said devices may be simultaneously operated by movement of said.

element and certain of said devices automatically disconnected from. said. element during its movement in one direction and automatically reconnected withsaid element during its movement inthe opposite direction.

electric circuit controlling devices, a driving element therefor, and. individual coupling means between said devices and said element Iwhereby', saidv devices may be simultaneously operatedby movement of said element and certain of said devices automatverse direction.

11. The combination of a plurality of ically disconnected from said element at any desiredpoints and automatically reconnected with said element at corresponding points when said element is moved in the opposite direction. a i

12.-'-'The combination of an electriccircuit cont-rolling device, a driving element there- .to said device, aplunger carried by said member biased to couple said member to said shaft, said member and said.plunger having inter-related cam surfaces for causing said plunger touncouple said member from said shaft when said plunger is turned on its axis, a' tripping element adapted to beengaged by said plunger to turn said plunger until said cam surfaces have such relationship as to cause the plunger to uncouple said member from said shaft, and

means whereby said tripping element may be adjusted to different positions;

ALFRED E. \VALLER. 

